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MELANCHOLY LOSS OF LIFE BY FIRE.
On the night of the 16th inst., one of those alarming and somewhat mysterious dispensations of Divine Providence, without whose permission, we are told, a sparrow cannot fall to the ground, took place in a flax mill, situate about ten minutes walk from Kilmarnock, belonging to Mr. Daniel M‘Larrey. At the time the very calamitous event occurred to which I am about to refer, there were at work in the mill, the owner, four men, and two girls, in all seven persons. It would appear that about 8 or 9 o’clock one of the girls went out to enter the lantern, which in flax-mills is prudently so constructed as not to admit of any communication with the interior of the mill, and therefore must be entered from the outside, to snuff the candle, which she did with her fingers, and on casting the snuff from her it entered a small crevice or mouse-hole, communicating, it would appear, with the floor of the mill, and falling through, rested on the very ignitable material with which such floors are usually covered, which immediately took fire. The blaze was observed by the owner, who instantly made an effort to extinguished it by throwing a leathern apron over it, and thought he had succeeded, but in this alas! he was mistaken, as in a second or two, it burst forth with increased force, the motion of the wipers adding to the fury of the devouring element, and in a few minutes not only the flax but the poor creatures themselves, who were covered with the waste of the flax, were enveloped in the flames. At this time, as all hope of getting the fire under was past, a simultaneous rush was made to the door, which unfortunately had, contrary to custom, been locked by the girl on her return from snuffing the candle; but owing to the
